Poland's deposit return system undergoes legislative and operational changes

Poland's deposit return system is undergoing significant operational and legislative developments. To address consumer frustration regarding the short 30-day validity of deposit vouchers, Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska has announced plans to extend the voucher validity to a minimum of three months, with six months also under consideration.

In response to these issues, the Stokrotka retail chain has proactively extended its own voucher validity to 90 days. The system is also facing challenges with new packaging types, such as PET plastic cans, which are not currently included in the deposit scheme and pose recycling difficulties. Additionally, there is ongoing debate regarding the expansion of the system to include small glass bottles (often called ‘małpki’) and the need for a thorough cost-benefit analysis before further expansion.

While the system has seen high return rates—reaching 700 million containers in June 2026—business groups like Konfederacja Lewiatan are calling for a pause on expansion until the current infrastructure and economic impacts are fully assessed. Logistical issues also persist, such as the difficulty of identifying eligible containers visually, necessitating the use of EAN barcodes for accurate processing.